www.lessmosquito.com

This site is one of the best resources on the web for avoiding insect bites and mosquito bites. It contains the most currently available scientific research information in a simple easy-to-understand format. By following the directions on this page it is possible to avoid all insect bites.

Maybe you are a mosquito-magnet or only get bitten occasionally? Whoever you are, precaution and some thought and energy is needed to prevent getting bitten. Even if  you rarely or never get bitten it is worth reading, especially if you are going to the tropics for the first time. The following advice depends on the intensity of the resident insect population and weather conditions – most insects cannot fly properly in a breeze or when it is raining (obviously this doesn't apply if you are inside or under cover), though do make sure you carry protection for when the situation unexpectedly changes e.g. the wind dies down. Although we mainly talk about how to avoid mosquito bites the advice broadly applies to all insects along with certain arachnids such as Ticks and some spiders.

Different species of mosquito are attracted to varying kairomones, so a strategy in one place may not work in another. However, as incognito mosquito repellent is effective against all 3,500 different species of mosquito you will be protected provided you use it properly. According to tests carried out by one of the worlds leading teaching universities the active ingredient is 100% effective in the short term and is in the "maximum effectiveness" category – incognito spray is stronger and safer than Deet. Indeed, if you are using incognito spray with an LLI mosquito net then it is clinically proven to protect against malaria. However, if you do not follow the advice you may well get a few bites although the probability of getting bitten is significantly lower when you are using incognito mosquito repellent. The chance of being bitten is lower still if you are using other incognito products and following the tips below. It all boils down to risk management.

Mosquito activity peaks around dusk and dawn and it is advisable to stay indoors at these times if you are in a heavily insect-populated area or if you are getting attacked -you may need to be under a mosquito net if mosquitoes are entering your dwelling. If you choose to be outside, do wear a long sleeved, light coloured top and full length trousers, tucking them into socks if the mozzies are intense, so use protection on ANY exposed skin and spray your clothing as well. NB Mosquitoes can and will bite through fabric, even thick jeans, so you can do one or a combination of these three things to shield yourself:

1. Apply protection to your skin before dressing, preferably spraying with incognito mosquito repellent.
2. Apply a protective solution to your clothing, a natural product is recommended to avoid staining. Remember that DEET dissolves synthetic fabrics and is likely to stain natural ones.
3. Use ambient safeguards such as incognito citronella incense sticks, mosquito coils (never sleep in the same room as a burning mosquito coil as this can cause serious respiratory problems. The same applies to some plug-ins or mosquito mats. Always read the label thoroughly), citronella or oil burners as these can halve the number of insects around you. NB Java citronella is at least twice as effective as the ordinary common citronella, Cymbopogan nardus.

In fact it is a good idea to always cover up with suitable clothing and wear protection at night – preferably chemical free. Studies show conclusively that black, blue and green will attract mosquitoes, as do floral patterns, so clothing should ideally be white. Light olive and light brown are also ok. Here is a useful acronym for basic protection: C.L.O.A.K.

C – Cover up arms and legs with suitable clothing.

L – Light coloured clothing is strongly advisable.

O – Odours, bodily or otherwise like certain kairomones and perfumes are strong attractants. Therefore washing thoroughly which includes exfoliating with a loofah and not using perfumes is essential to minimise attractiveness.

A – Apply an effective insect repellent.

K – Keep away from stagnant water.
Always sleep under a good quality impregnated mosquito net and prepare it before you go out for the evening. Avoid emitting carbon dioxide, for example, by burning a candle as this invites insects in, burn Java citronella oil in an oil burner or citronella incense sticks instead.

Tips:

• Spray incognito on and around your door before entering as mosquitoes often lay in wait on the outside of doors and windows and this simple procedure helps to keep them out of your dwelling.
  Wrap laundry up in plastic bags or other airtight containers and keep all luggage closed! Stay in screened accommodation or other safe refuges, where possible.
• Avoid all fragrances. Some, such as lavender actually attract insects – just look closely at a lavender bush! Be aware that most toiletries and sunscreens along with most fabric softeners contain scent. Be aware of your odor output.
• Exfoliate every 2 or 3 days to remove the impurities within skin pores that skin bacteria feed off emitting a powerful kairomone in the process.  Use our luxury loofah soap or another loofah, preferably with our shampoo or luxury soap.
• Use incognito soaps to be fully camouflaged. Nearly all ordinary soaps contain insect attractants making it very hard to avoid mosquito bites.
• If possible, pick a breezy spot when sitting or standing around. In the tropics this is usually a relief from the heat.  Mosquitoes don't fly well in windy conditions or in air-conditioned rooms. Conversely, when it is hot, most mosquitoes can manoeuvre like fighter pilots!
• Reapply natural products more frequently than toxic chemical ones. Be aware that many mosquitoes have come to tolerate Deet and certain other pesticides like DDT.
• Mosquitoes are also drawn to water as this is where they breed. Stay away from stagnant water if possible.
• Perspiration is a common kairomone. Reapply protection after swimming and washing. Many people get bitten after washing their hands as they forget to reapply protection, so remember after those bathroom breaks to reapply incognito! Any exposed non-protected skin is an open invitation!
• A lot of mosquitoes zero in on the ears, wrists and ankles because this is where the skin is thinner and blood vessels are nearer the surface; which is one of the reasons women generally get bitten more than men.  So, it is a good idea to wash with incognito soaps or incognito Hair & Body Wash, then spray and or use our  moisturiser. Always use a spray last.
• Mosquito killing machines are nowhere near as effective as incognito anti mosquito spray because "whole-host odors (i.e. a body) are more attractive than CO2 and lactic acid alone." (Geier M, Sass H, Boeckh J. A search for components in the human body odor that attract female aedes aegypti 1996).
• Larger persons tend to attract more mosquitoes because of the greater surface area of skin they emit more kairomones – every individual skin cell produces CO2, lactic acid, heat, etc. So if you fall into this category you will not only need to be extra vigilant, you will also need to apply more incognito products more frequently in order to fully protect yourself.
• Although some people swear by certain supplements, such as Thiamine which can be in the form of vitamin B1 or B6, patches or tablets, these will not give you 24 hour protection and therefore should not be used exclusively as the probability is that you will get bitten.
• When walking through the countryside, tuck your trousers into your socks and spray liberally with incognito anti mosquito all over. If you are going to be at risk from Ticks it a sensible idea to bring your own Tick Remover. It can be very risky removing a Tick with tweezers because its innards can be squeezed inside the host. There is a special NHS Unit in the Midlands that deals solely with Tick bites.
• Read our How To Use incognito Products Page BEFORE you travel.
• In acute areas e.g. Parts of Africa, India, SE Asia, etc. It is really important that you take maximum precautions to avoid mosquito bites, when at risk, because half measures could entail you getting bitten. And remember even the best anti-malaria tablets do not guarantee against contracting malaria, only no mosquito bites can.
• Lastly, like most animals, it is possible that mosquitoes can "pick-up" on our fear, this makes total sense from the physiological viewpoint alone as when we are fearful we are emitting kairomones at a faster rate. Think sweat, increased CO2, etc. So, it's a great idea to be positive; just remind yourself that with incognito you have the best protection money can buy!

Use insect repellents safely.  Always read the label and product information before use.